Process for making detachable cue tips



March 13, 1951 R WATSON 2,544,970

5: PROCESS FOR MAKING DETACHABLE CUE TIPS Filed July 19, 1948 .L". fi.more INVENTOR BY W- ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 13, 1951 friendlies F RMAKING-DET eHABLE con TIPS 7,

Edw rd R., -Wr i on Y ungstown, Ohio.

This invention relates to a process for forming a detachable one tipconstruction for billiard cues, and more particularly, has reference toa process for forming a, tip for a cue stick designed to be detachable,adapted to transmit pressures through the strongest points ofconnection, and further designed to be of exceptional strength, and yetboth inexpensive and durable.

Detachable cue tips are not inthemselves new in the art. However, theordinary processes for making a cue tip detachable have brought forthcertain problems not encountered where a tip is permanently connected tothe cue stick, and the advantage derived through the detachablearrangement has been offset, in all instances of which I am aware, bythe disadvantages resulting from inability to make a sufliciently strongconnection, the transmission of strains through weak parts of theconnection, prohibitively expensive construction, or a combination ofany or all of these.

It is intended in the present invention to provide a process for adetachable cue tip construction that will permit the user to secure theadvantages of a detachable cue tip without at the same time imparting tothe construction the disadvantages mentioned above, or in other words aprocess for making a cue tip detachable while at the same time keepingits conriect'on to the cue stick in proper alignment, and as strong oreven stronger than the conventional permanent connection.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of aprocess, hereinaftermore fully described and pointed out in the claim,;it being understoodthat changes may be made'in said process without departing from thespirit of'the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 is an elevation of the end portion ofa cue stick having my tip attached.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section.

Fig. 3 is a secton on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the refcrence character 5 designatesa wooden one stick. I form that end of the cue stick 5 to which the tipis attached with a tapered annular shoulder 6, from which extends agenerally cylndrical tenon I, that is aligned axially with the cuestick. The tenon I is formed with spaced par,- allel annular grooves 8,that define spaced and parallel annular ribs 9.

A plastic tip is designated Ill, and the outer Applicationtl ulylii,194s,; serialNb. 39,389 1 ciain'i. (stern-.10 Y

2 surface of this tip is tapered to permit the tip to be an extension ofthe conventionally tapered one stick 5. I 'have found that this tip isbest molded to shape in a suitable die, and when it is in a state ofliquidity I extend the tenon 1 and shoulder 6 of the cue stick into oneend of the die, so that when the material from which the tip III isformed hardens, it is bonded permanently to the cue stick. In testswhich have been made, it has been found that the plastic flows aroundthe tenon, upon curing, and due to the pressure the plastic shrinksaround the tenon and into the grooves 8. During the tests made, attemptsto remove this plastic tip Ill have resulted only in its being literallycrushed to pieces by reason of its having united so strongly to thewood.

In the other end of the tip I0, I form an axially disposed andinternally threaded socket II extending inwardly from the outer shoulderI2, that is preferably disposed perpendicularly to the axis common toall the parts.

The threaded opening I I may be either tapped after curing of theplastic tip, or molded in while the plastic still has a flowcharacteristic. Preferably, the latter method is used, since the threadscan be molded during the same operation of molding the tip It to the cuestick 5.

A leather shock tip I3 is provided, and exteriorly, this is ofconventional appearance. This shock tip, however, is formed with anopen-.-' ing at its inner end in which is firmly embedded a plastic studI4, which may have a button I5 to make the connection more secure. Thestud I4 projectsfrom' the inner end of the leather shock tip, and isthreaded conformably to the threads of the opening I I. When thedetachable shock tip I3 is connected to the plastic tip I6, the stud Itis threaded into opening II to an extent whereby the flat inner end ofthe shock tip that surrounds the stud I4 is compressed slightly againstshoulder I2 of the plastic tip II}. As a result, when shocks are takenby the shock tip during use of the cue stick, the force is transmittednot through the threaded connection of the tip In and the shock tip, butrather, is transmitted in an annular path through the engagingshoulders. This eliminates a weakness common to-most detachable connections of the same general type, wherein all or a good part of thestrain is absorbed by the threaded connection, weakening or looseningsaid connection.

Advantages residing in the construction devised may now be noted. I havebeen able to eliminate entirely the use of any metal parts or parts ofundue weight, since weight at the operating end of a cue stick is whollyundesirable. The detachable cue tip construction is light, and yet is oftremendous strength, and provides for a channeling of shock pressuresthrough paths where they will not damage any connections or weakenthem.Additionally, the construction is simple, and relatively inexpensive,and yet accomplishes all the desirable results of a detachable cue tiparrangement.

What is claimed is:

The process of providing a detachable tip construction for cue sticksthat includes the steps first of forming an integral axial tenon uponthe end of a wooden cue; positioning said tenon in a tip mold havingtherein plastic material in a fluid state until the plastic materialhardens around and is bonded to said tenon; molding into said plasticmaterial while it is still in its fluid state a threaded recess;embedding in a leather shock tip a threaded plastic stud; and finallythreading said stud into the threaded recess until the leather shock tipis compressed against the plastic material.

EDWARD R. WATSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 192,044 Hill June 12, 18771;077,664 Ankenmann Nov. 4, 1913 2,212,780 Koch Aug. 27, 1940

